Details of Thesis

Title

Body Image and
Dieting Behaviours: a Study of athletes and non-athletes

Author

Peterson,
Vanessa Margaret

Institution

Australian Catholic University

Date

2003

Abstract

Research has shown
that elite female athletes competing in competitive sports may
experience weight consciousness and face demands to conform to
unrealistic standards of body weight. The purpose of this research was
to investigate body image and dieting behaviours in adolescent female
athletes and non-athletes. A self-reporting questionnaire was
administered to 60 athletes aged between 13-16 years derived from eight
different sporting populations, and a control group consisting of 60
non-athletes or inactive individuals aged between 13-16 years. Two major
areas relating to weight and eating behaviours were examined: disordered
eating and distorted body image. Other variables under investigation
included current attempts at weight loss, level of acceptance of thin
female stereotypes promoted by the media, reasons for dieting, and
perception of one’s own body image. Results indicated that the majority
of the athletes displayed a positive body image and were generally happy
with their overall body shape. This group was less likely to employ
weight loss behaviours. However, the non-athletes were more likely to
display distorted body image and distorted eating behaviours. Consistent
with the cultural expectations of thinness, large proportions of the
non-athletes wished to lose weight, even though their actual weight
(i.e. Body Mass Index) was normal or underweight. Weight concerns in the
non-athlete group related more to attaining a media driven “ideal” of
femininity. The weight concerns recorded amongst a small number of
athletes were related more to improving sporting performance. Although
no clinically diagnosed cases of eating disorders were recorded, eating
behaviours, weight reduction practices and body image beliefs indicated
that the adolescent female non-athletes may be at risk of developing
disordered eating and body image problems.